Bell’s the One Out-Kicks Sconsin in Roxelana

LOUISVILLE, KY – Bell’s the One, winner of the $500,000 Derby City Distaff (G1) last September, ran down Winning Colors (G3) heroine and 6/5 favorite Sconsin in deep stretch to prevail in Saturday’s 11th running of the $109,300 Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs by 3/4 of a length.

Bell’s the One, owned by Bob Lothenbach’s Lothenbach Stables Inc., ran 6 1/2 furlongs over a fast track in 1:14.90 – just 0.56 off Love At Noon’s 2001 track record – under jockey Corey Lanerie for trainer Neil Pessin.

The triumph was worth $67,035 and the prize made Bell’s the One horse racing’s newest millionaire. Her career record now stands at 18-8-3-2 with $1,016,825 earned.

Four Graces, last year’s $100,000 Dogwood (G3) and $98,000 Beaumont (G3) winner who was making her first start after a 245-day break, led the field of six fillies and mares through early 1/4-mile splits of :22.56 and :45.19 with Jungle Juice in close pursuit to her outside, 2-time graded stakes winner Sconsin a length back in third and Bell’s the One another length back in fourth and in the clear while heading into the turn.

Exiting the turn, Four Graces, Jungle Juice and Sconsin were three in a line with Bell’s the One making a bold wide move. Sconsin poked her head in front with 3/16 of a mile to run but was quickly met by Bell’s the One at the final furlong marker and she outkicked that rival for her sixth career stakes win.

“We’re proud of her and she ran a good race,” trainer Greg Foley said of the favorite Sconsin. “She got beat today by a nice mare.”

In her previous start, Bell’s the One finished fourth – behind champion Gamine, Sconsin, and Estilo Talentoso – while attempting to defend her Derby City Distaff title 7 weeks ago on Kentucky Derby Day.

“Today, I let her run a little bit out of the gate because I didn’t think the pace would be too fast,” Lanerie said. “Then I was sort of in the pocket (inside of Sconsin) and I didn’t really like my spot because I know she needs to be outside of horses. I took her back from there to make sure I got first run at Sconsin. You could tell she was ready to run a big race and Neil had her ready to go.”

Bell’s the One returned $6.20, $2.80 and $2.20 as the 2/1 third betting choice. Sconsin, under Tyler Gaffalione, returned $2.60 and $2.10. Miss Mosaic, under Colby Hernandez, rallied to finish another 1 3/4 lengths back of the runner-up in third and paid $4 to show at odds of 26/1.

Four Graces was another 2 3/4 lengths back in fourth and was followed by Shesomajestic and Jungle Juice.

At age 2, Bell’s the One won the $74,250 Letellier Memorial at Fair Grounds at age 2 and the $250,000 Raven Run (G2) at Keeneland at age 3. In addition to winning last year’s Derby City Distaff, she won the $100,000 Winning Colors (G3) in May.

Bell’s the One is a daughter of Majesticperfection out of the Street Cry mare Street Mate and was bred in Kentucky by Bret Jones.

“The last 4 or 5 days, you could tell in her training she was ready to run a big race,” Pessin said. “She got a much better trip today than in her last start. Now, we’ll look to get her ready for the Breeders’ Cup. She’ll likely run in the ‘Win and You’re In’ at Keeneland (the Thoroughbred Club of America [G2]). I’m not sure yet if I’ll run her once before then or not. We’ll wait and see, but the goal is the Breeders’ Cup (at Del Mar) at the end of the year.”